ISSN 2756-3391
African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2756-3391 Vol. 12 (5), pp. 001-004, May, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Antioxidant profile evaluation in nigerian pediatric patients with Plasmodium falciparum malaria
Nmorsi O.P.G.1*, Ukwandu N.C.D.2 and Egwunyenga A.O.3
1Tropical Disease Research Unit, Department of Zoology, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria.
2Department of Medical Microbiology, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria.
3Department of Zoology, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria.
Accepted 17 September, 2023
Abstract
We evaluated the antioxidant status of 148 Nigerian children with Plasmodium falciparum malaria. The mean malarial parasitaemia was 4701.05 ± 2160.53/µL. The mean antioxidant concentrations of the infected children were determined for vitamin A (12.16 ± 1 - 16 µg/dL), vitamin C (0.43 ± 0.03 mg/dL), 5 carotenes (40.96 ± 5.38 µg/dL), and vitamin E (0.45 ± 0.03 mg/dL) . The control subjects had higher mean concentrations of vitamin A (72.12 ± 3.12 µg/dL), and of the 5 carotenes (132.63 ± 22.45 µg/dL), and these differences were statistically significant (X2 = 42.86, P > 0.05 and X2 = 50.64, P > 0.05, respectively). The mean concentrations of vitamin C (1.22 ± 0.31 mg/dL) and vitamin E (1.03 ± 0.48 mg/dL) in the control children were not statistically significant when compared with their infected children (X2 = 0.34, P < 0.05) and (X2 = 0.66, P < 0.05), respectively. The relationship between malarial parasitaemia and the concentrations of vitamin E and the 5 carotenes were positively correlated (r = 0.83 and r = 0.99, respectively) . The levels of plasma vitamin A and vitamin C were negatively correlated with the malarial parasitaemia (r = -0.98, and r = -0.96, respectively). Children within their first 5 years of age had higher malarial parasitaemia (7628.42 ± 3151.42/µL) than those > 6 years (1176.58 ± 956/µL). The children between 1 - 5 years old had lower concentrations of vitamin A (8.89 ± 3.74 µg/dL) and vitamin C (0.28 ± 0.21 µg/dL), while the concentration of the 5 carotenes (44.54 µg/dL) and of vitamin E (0.50 ± 0.16 µg/dL) was higher in these children. In conclusion, the depressed levels of plasma antioxidants in the P. falciparum-infected children suggested lowered immunity of the children, which may contribute to the morbidity and mortality of malaria in our locality.
Key words: Vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, antioxidants, Children, Plasmodium falciparum, Nigeria.